Judge rejects Ebola quarantine for nurse
By ROBERT F. BUKATY, Associated Press
Oct 31, 2014 1:33 PM CDT
Nurse Kaci Hickox is staying in this home on a rural road in Fort Kent, Maine, Wednesday, Oct. 29, 2014. Hickox, who treated Ebola patients in West Africa said Wednesday she plans to stop quarantining herself in rural Maine, signaling a potential showdown with state police monitoring her home and state...   (Associated Press)

FORT KENT, Maine (AP) — A Maine judge has given nurse Kaci Hickox the OK to go wherever she pleases, handing state officials a defeat in their bid to isolate her.

The nurse who treated Ebola patients in Sierra Leone called it "a good day" and said her "thoughts, prayers and gratitude" remain with those who are still battling Ebola in West Africa.

The state sought to impose restrictions until Hickox's 21-day incubation period for Ebola ends on Nov. 10.

The judge is requiring only daily monitoring and said she's not a threat to the public. In his ruling, the judge wrote that "people are acting out of fear and that this fear is not entirely rational."

Maine Gov. Paul LePage said it's "unfortunate" that restrictions were eased, but he said the state will follow the law.

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